Tray and cabinet arrangement



Feb. 1, 1966 J. E. MULREED 3,232,687

TRAY AND CABINET ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 1, 1963 3 Sheets-Sneet 1lNVENTOR. .TAMES E1 NULREED Feb. 1, 1966 J. E. MULREED TRAY AND CABINETARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1963 INVENTOR.

JAMES E MULREED Feb. 1, 1966 .1. E. MULREED TRAY AND CABINET ARRANGEMENT3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 1, 1963 VINVENTOR. JAMES E MULREED United sPm .0

3,232,687 TRAY AND CABINET ARRANGEMENT James E. Mulreed, Stamford,Conn., assignor to Pitney- Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporationof'D elaware Filed Oct. v1', 1963,,Ser. No. 313,124 2 Claims. (Cl.312336) This invention relates to an improved structural arrangementfora tray and its supporting elements; More particularly the inventionrelates to a novel" interrelated construction for a tray, an extenderplate and the mounting means for said plate.

In those arrangements where a tray must be capable of being withdrawn tothe extent of offering full access to the entire containing space of thetray' it is necessary to'provide a very substantial support between thecabinet frame and the extended tray. This is particularly importantwhere the tray contents are heavy,- such'as in the case where metaladdress plates or the like are to be stacked and stored in the tray.This support requirement has heretofore necessitated the provision ofrelatively heavy, complex and/or expensive apparatus.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved tray andcabinet arrangement which is simple and rugged in construction andreliable and eflicient in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tray andcabinet arrangement whereby a sheet metal type extender plate is formedso as to be slidably supported on the cabinet frame and so as toslidably support an associated tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved tray andcabinet arrangement whereby a slidable sheet metal type extender plateis constructed so as to slidably support a tray and so as to permit thelatter to be completely withdrawn from said plate.

Other objects will become apparent as the disclosure progresses.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general nature of theinstant tray and cabinet arrangement.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic type sectional side elevational view of theinstant apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective viewillustrating the construction ofthe immediate supporting means for an extender plate.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are respectively end, perspective and side views of oneof the extender plates.

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively perspective, side and inner end viewsof one of the trays.

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the assembly of the tray,extender plate and the plate supporting means looking toward the frontof the tray. p

, Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 a cabinet generally indicated by referencenumeral 12 comprises an outer boxlike housing 13 having two rows ofsimilar tray supporting columns that are secured to and said housing by"any suitable means. The outer or front row includes three uniformlyspaced columns 14', 15 and 16, FIG. 1, while the inner or rearwardcolumn row includes three corresponding uniformly spaced columns such as17, FIG. 2, that are respectively operatively aligned withsaid' threefront columns 14, 15 and 16. The open sides of the U-shaped sectionedcolumns 14, 15 and 16 of the outer row face the open sides of theU-shaped columns such as 17 of the inner row. The cabinet housing andthe columns are provided with sets of projections or ears 20, FIG. 2;each set of four such projections slidably supporting a related extenderplate and tray. In that the various projections are similar a detaileddescription of a pair thereof will suffice here. Referring to FIG. 3 twosup- I CC porting ears or projections 20trand 20b which are made fromplastic material such as nylon or the like are secured to opposite sidesof column '14 by any" suitable fastening means. Each ear includes ahorizontaluppersurface 22, a dovetail type shoulder 23, arecessedportion 24 and a flat sided abutment or extension 25. For clarity in thedrawings the opposed 'ears2tla and 20b have been shown as separateelements however they preferably comprise a single member which extendsthrough" suitable apertures formed in opposite sides of c0lumn'14 andwhich is secured thereto by anysuitable fastening means all asdiagrammatically indicated by the phantom lines 26 of FIG. 3. It will beunderstoodthat the various ears20 are mounted on the" columns and in thecabinet housing in cooperating coplanar sets of four so as to affordv aslidable support means for the various respectively associated traysmarked A through L, FIG. 1. The outer ears for the outer column of'trays such as AC and JL are secured to the inner sides of the cabinethousing or to additional columns such as those at 14-17 that arefastened! to the sides of said housing.-

An extender plate 30, FIG. 2, is slidably mounted on each ofsaid;coop'erating sets of four ears 20, and in that each plate 30' issimilar in construction a detailed consideration of one thereof willsuflice here. Referring to FIGS. 4, S and 6'there is shown'a plate 30awhich is formed from a generally rectangular piece of sheet metal, Thehorizontal body portion 31 of the plate is formed with stiffeningcorrugations or ribs 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 which impart asubstantiallongitudinal, transverse and torsional rigidity to the plate.The front and rearwardends of the plate are respectively formed withdepending abutment flanges 40 and 41 while the longitudinal side edgesthereof are formed with bentoff slide flanges 42 and 43. The outersectional profiles of the flanges 42, 43, which are best illustrated inFIG. 4, correspond with the outer profile of' the projections or ears20,

FIG. 2, whereby the extender plate 30a is capable of slidably engagingand being supported by a set of said ears 20 as illustrated in theassembly drawing ofFIG. 10.

An outer portion of the length of each longitudinal flange 42 and 43 iscut away as is respectively indicated at and 45, FIG. 5, thereby.defining a pair of lateral abutment shoulders 46 and-47 on oppositesides of the plate front.

A work holder tray is adapted to be slidably mounted on each extenderplate 30, and in thatthe various trays A-L, FIG. 1, are similar adetailed description of the one thereof will suffice here.

sheet'metal front; bottomand rear end walls 50, 51 and 52 respectivelyand two side walls 53 and 54. Along the two junctions of the side andbottom walls there are formed angular bent off shoulders 55 and 56 as isbest seen. in FIG. 9. The outer transverse profile of the in:

dented shoulders 55 and-56 correspond to the inner transverse profile ofthe flanges 42 and 43 formed on the associated extender plate 3.0a so asto thereby permit said extender plate to receive and slidably supportsaid tray' as illustrated by the sectional assembly view of 'FIG. 10. Atthe rearward ends of shoulders 55 and 56 the bottom 51 of the tray isformed with tapered edges 57 and58 respectively, FIG. 7, so as tofacilitate the initial sliding 7 Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 the trayE comprises a box-like structure having A sheet metal type handle 60a isaflixed to the front wall of the tray, the lower portion thereof, FIG;8, extending through a suitable slot formed in the tray from wall 50 sothat an intermediate portion 61a of said handle may be spot welded orotherwise secured to the adjacent rear surface of said wall 50. Theupper portion 62 of the handle extends parallel to but spaced from theadjacent inner surface of wall 50 so as to be capable 'of receiving andsupporting an indicator card which is visible through a suitableaperture 63, FIG. 7, formed in the front Wall of the tray.

, In FIG. there is shown a transverse sectional view of the variouspartsin their assembled condition. The extender plate 36a is slidablymounted on a related coplanar of four dovetail type projections 20. Theouter limit of movement of the plate relative to the cabinet isdetermined by the engagement of the rear depending plate flange 41 withthe abutment shoulders 25 of those projections mounted on the relatedinner columns, such as 17, FIG. 2; while the inner limit of movementthereof is determined by engagement of the front depending plate flange40 with the abutment shoulders of the projections 20 mounted on theouter columns 14 and 15. The tray E is slidably mounted on the extenderplate a, the depending tray lugs 60 and 61 extending into the cut awayportions 44, respectively of the plate flanges. The inner limit ofmovement of the tray relative to the extender plate is determined by theengagement of the rear side of the front tray wall with the adjacentouter end of the plate 30a, while the outer limit of movement thereof isdetermined by engagement of the flat front sides of the two dependingtray lugs and 61 with the lateral abutment shoulders 46 and 47 formed onthe plate. By the arrangement described above the individual tray-s mayeach be withdrawn far enough to afford complete access to the contentsof each tray while still being rigidly supported by an associatedextender late. If it is desired to completely remove the tray from thecabinet the outer end of the withdrawn tray may be lifted so that thelower ends of the depending tray lugs 60, 61 are respectively locatedabove the associated plate shoulders 46 and 47 thereby leaving the trayfree to be slidably removed from the outer end of the extender plate.This lifting of the outer end of the tray relative to the extender plateis made possible by providing a somewhat loose sliding engagementbetween the tray and plate. When it is desired to remount the removedtray latter is threaded back on the related extender plate as facilatedby the tapered edges, 57, 58 of the tray bottom Wall 50, the taperedrear side of the tray lugs 60, 61 facilitating the subsequent engagingand running of the tray back onto said plate so that the lugs are againdisposed in said cutaway portions 44 and 45 of the plate flanges.

As may be seen from the diagrammatic view of FIG. 2 the various trays 30may be slidably moved from a normal closed position as shown for tray Fto a fully with drawn position as shown for tray D. In this position oftray D the entire contents of the tray are readily accessible.Furthermore from this fully withdrawn position, tray D may either beclosed or completely removed from the associated extender plate 30 asabove described thereby permitting the tray and contents to betransported as a unit to a remove point whereafter the traymay bereadily reassembled in the cabinet. The above described apparatus hasbeen found to afford a very simple rugged type of tray and cabinetarrangement which is relatively inexpensive to construct and maintain.If desired the cabinet housing may be provided with a slidable and/orswingabl'e front cover or door which is capable of remov ablyrcoveringthe front of the various trays.

Since many changes could be made in the embodimentof the invention asparticularly described and shown herein without departing from the scopeof the invent-ion, is .intended that this embodiment be considered asexemplary and that the invention not be limited except as warranted bythe following claims. l i

What is claimed is:

1. A tray and cabinet arrangement: comprising a frame;

said frame including a plurality of vertical tray supporting columns;

a set of projections respectively secured to said columns;

said projections each having an upper substantially horizontal bearingsurface, an undercut portion and an abutment surface formed'ther'eom' aone-piece extender'plate having bent off shoulders formed along thelength of the side edges thereof, said shoulders each having an outersurface configuration corresponding to that for said projections andincluding a substantially horizontal elongated bearing flange which isdisposed above the body portion of said plate, the lower surface of saidflange engaging the upper bearing surface of the related projectionwhereby said set of projections may slidably support said extenderplate;

said extender plate also having an abutment formed on the inner endthereof for cooperation with the abutment surfaces on saidplate-supporting projections so as to limit the outward movement of saidplate relative to said frame;

a tray adapted to be mounted on said extender plate, said tray havingindented longitudinal shoulders formed along the lower side edgesthereof so as to correspond in shape to the configuration of said bentoff shoulders formed on said extender plate, said tray shoulders havingsubstantially horizontal bearing surfaces which respectively engage theupper surfaces of said plate flanges whereby said tray is slidablysupported by said extender plate; and

abutment means formed on said tray for cooperation with said extenderplate for releasably limiting the outward movement of said tray relativeto said extender plate.

2. A tray and cabinet arrangement: comprising v a frame;

said frame including a plurality of vertically disposed tray supportingcolumns;

a plurality of related sets of projections secured to said columns;

each projection having an upper projecting dovetail portion and a lowerprojecting abutment portion formed thereon;

an extender plate slidably mounted on each related set of saidprojections, said plate being of one-piece construction and extendingbetween the related columns of said frame;

said extender plate having elongated bent oif flanges formed along thelengths of the sides thereof, the

' respective lower sides of said flanges slidably engaging the upperbearing surfaces of said dovetail portions of the related projections;

saidplate being formed with a first depending abutment that is adaptedto engage the lower-projecting portion of at least one of saidprojections, said plate side flanges also respectively being formed witha pair of horizontally extending shoulder abutments;

- 2. tray slidably mounted on each of said extender plates, said trayhaving indented dovetail type shoulders formed along the lengths of thelower side edges thereof, said tray shoulders each having asubstantially horizontal bearing surface which slidably engages theupper bearing surface of the associated extender plate side flanges; and

a pair of depending lugs secured to each tray and adapted torespectively engage said shoulder abutments and to limit the outwardmovement of said tray relative to said plate, there being sufiicientvertical play between said tray and extender plate so as to permit thetray to be lifted so that said lugs may be disengaged from saidshoulders abutments References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATESPATENTS 11/1904 Thorpe 29457 2/1932 Eustis 312-335 6 2,498,807 2/1950Hagenbach 312-120 2,678,865 5/1954 Perkins 312-337 FOREIGN PATENTS724,102 2/ 1955 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. A TRAY AND CABINET ARRANGEMENT: COMPRISING A FRAME; SAID FRAMEINCLUDING A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL TRAY SUPPORTING COLUMNS; A SET OFPROJECTIONS RESPECTIVELY SECURED TO SAID COLUMNS; SAID PROJECTIONS EACHHAVING AN UPPER SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BEARING SURFACE, AN UNDERCUTPORTION AND AN ABUTMENT SURFACE FORMED THEREON; A ONE-PIECE EXTENDERPLATE HAVING BENT OFF SHOULDERS FORMED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE SIDEEDGES THEREOF, SAID SHOULDERS EACH HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE CONFIGURATIONCORRESPONDING TO THAT FOR SAID PROJECTIONS AND INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTAL ELONGATED BEARING FLANGE WHICH IS DISPOSED ABOVE THE BODYPORTION OF SAID PLATE, THE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID FLANGE ENGAGING THEUPPER BEARING SURFACE OF THE RELATED PROJECTION WHEREBY SAID SET OFPROJECTIONS MAY SLIDABLY SUPPORT SAID EXTENDER PLATE; SAID EXTENDERPLATE ALSO HAVING AN ABUTMENT FORMED ON THE INNER END THEREOF FORCOOPERATION WITH THE ABUTMENT SURFACES ON SAID PLATE-SUPPORTING WITHPROJECTIONS SO AS TO LIMIT THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE RELATIVETO SAID FRAME; A TRAY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ON SAID EXTENDER PLATE, SAIDTRAY HAVING INDENTED LONGITUDINAL SHOULDERS FORMED ALONG THE LOWER SIDEEDGES THEREOF SO AS TO CORRESPOND IN SHAPE TO THE CONFIGURATION OF SAIDBENT OFF SHOULDERS FORMED ON SAID EXTENDER PLATE, SAID TRAY SHOULDERSHAVING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BEARING SURFACES WHICH RESPECTIVELYENGAGE THE UPPER SURFACES OF SAID PLATE FLANGES WHEREBY SAID TRAY ISSLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID EXTENDER PLATE; AND ABUTMENT MEANS FORMED ONSAID TRAY FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID EXTENDER PLATE FOR RELEASABLYLIMITING THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAY RELATIVE TO SAID EXTENDERPLATE.